Author: Simran Yunus, IV year of B.A.,LL.B. from Bihar Institute of Law
EVE TEASING IN INDIA
Eve teasing , the worst drug addicting our youth. Whenever we listen about eve teasing some question arises in our mind , What is eve teasing ? Why is there eve teasing ? Is there any antidote by which we can remove it from our life ? Well ! the answer to these questions would vary from person to person mind to mind and thoughts to thoughts. There may be various definitions to eve teasing. The Indian constitution has defined it in IPC under section 509 as an obscene gesture, indecent body language and negative comments directed at any women or girl or exhibiting any object which intrudes upon the privacy of a women.
Harassment in public places, by known and unknown persons which effect women is called eve teasing. Most of the times eve teasing is not only for satisfying the motive of sex love fun and fantasies but closely inclined towards the patriarchal mindset of Indian men. It is felt by the women’s of the society at both micro and macro level. It is spreading like fire in woods.
Females of all ages face it at different level in different ways and at different places. It is a termite eating the peace, freedom , and modesty of a female. Now a days womens are leading in all the roles in almost all the sectors, but eve teasing is acting as a barrier in their way by effecting them physically, psychologically, socially, emotionally , and morally.
Today females go to offices , schools , colleges , and other work places everyday with the fear of eve teasing , It is the duty of the society and state to give extreme protection and a safe and secure environment to them. A safe and secure environment is both the basic necessity and right of all the females around the world. Thus it is a wrong against the honour , dignity , and self respect of a women.
FORMS OF EVE TEASING
Teasing could not be defined in a single line or sentence any act by a man to annoyor irritate women effecting her mental peace , outraging her modesty or any physical abuse would be considered as eve teasing. Following are some forms of teasing in India with its percentage of practice according to a recent survey by an organisation.
1: singing songs : 64.9%
2: staring : 53.5%
3: commenting : 48.5%
4: Blocking the way : 40%
5: Touching : 36.3%
6: Showing signs : 35.6%
7: Brushing : 28.4%
8: Using nick name : 22.1%
9: Beckoning : 17.9%
10: Patting the bottom : 15.9%
11: Patting the back : 16.9 %
12: Inappropriate proposal of marriage : 13.2%
13: Describing vulgarly : 12.2%
14: Using bad words : 12.2%
15: Threatening : 11.4%
16: Pinching : 10.2%
17: Pulling hand : 8.2%
18: Snatching : 7.7%
19: Throwing stones : 6.7%
20: Pulling the dress : 3.7%
21: Beating : 3.7 %
22: causing injury : 2.5%
EVE TEASING AS AN OFFENCE IN INDIA
Sexual harrasment like eve teasing of women amounts to violation of rights guaranteed under article 14 , 15 , and 21. It is treated as criminal offence in India under several sections of IPC. Thus any person practising eve teasing in the Indian territory would be liable to punishment or fine or both depending upon the case as eve teasing has a very broad aspect in the society, The Indian law has defined it and its punishment in the following sections of IPC.
SECTION 294 : Obscene acts and songs.—Whoever, to the annoyance of others
(a) does any obscene act in any public place, or
(b) sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both.
SECTION 354: Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty.—Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
SECTION 509 :Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman.—Whoever, intending to insult the modesty of any woman, utters any word, makes any sound or gesture, or exhibits any object, intending that such word or sound shall be heard, or that such gesture or object shall be seen, by such woman, or intrudes upon the privacy of such woman, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both. The above-mentioned sections shows that the Indian constitution won’t accept any sort of misconduct with women’s and have strict laws for such an act.
DATA OF CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN IN INDIA
1: According to the report of NCRBa total of 4,05,861 cases of crime against women were registered during 2019 showing an increase of 7.3% over 2018 which was 3,78,236 .
2: U.P tops in India in crime.
3: 14.5% of all crimes against women
of India is done in U.P .
4: 12.4% of all rape cases is done in U.P
5: Case of assault with intent to outrage a womens modesty is reported every 6 minute in India.
NCRB REPORT OF 2020
A total of 3,71,503 cases of crime against women were registered across the country in 2020. U.P had worst figure in terms of overall crime against women with 49835 cases. Rajasthan had highest number of rape case in 2020 with 5310 cases. UP had 2769 rape cases. MP had 2339 rape cases. Maharashtra 2061 rape cases. 77 rape cases are registered everyday in India. Rape increased 33% between 2018 to 2021 according to recent reports.
According to the NCRB, as of 2018, the majority of crimes against women were registered under 'Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives' (31.9%) followed by 'Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty' (27.6%), 'Kidnapping & Abduction of Women' (22.5%) and 'Rape' (10.3%). The crime rate per lakh women population was 58.8 in 2018, as compared to 57.9 in 2017. As per the data shared by Delhi police there is a rise of 63% in crimes against women in 2020.
Rape : 43% 580 to 833
Molestation : 39% 733 to 1022
Kidnapping of womens: 1026 to 1580
Abduction of women : 46 to 159
Dowry death : 47 to 56.
REFERENCE
Cases and its jurisdiction
Rupan Bajaj & Another vs. KPS gill.
Deputy Inspector General of Police &Anr. vs. S. Samuthiram.
vishaka vs state of Rajasthan.
The Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013
Section 354 D